“The Sacrifice of Praise”

Today, Thanksgiving Sunday, you will have opportunity to “give thanks” and offer “the sacrifice of praise” during the opening of our worship hour.

 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name.

(Heb 13:15 NIV)

 

I read last week about one family who had a “Thanksgiving Bowl” in which every day during November, each family member would write down a blessing and drop it in the bowl.  Then, at the Thanksgiving dinner table, they would get the bowl and read all the blessings their family had experienced.

 

          Today, let’s pretend we’re reading from our Thanksgiving Bowl!  What are your blessings?  We will share during the worship hour.

 

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Kent Ross’ Reflections on Last Week’s Loving and Learning Conference at North Hills Church near Springfield

 

          Its late Sunday now (Nov. 11^th) and we’re still coming down to earth after the Conferences of this past week, both the History Conf. and the TL²C Event. They were just wonderful times, both of them.

 

          First, they were a joy to us personally. Cheryl and I had worked hard to put our part of them together and they worked out quite well. And it was wonderful to see the people who came. It is far too infrequent that we get to see some of them . . . Dick & Carol Eldred, John & Alice Railton, Rex Cain, Dale Swartz, Ray & Susan Hall, Gail (Ward) Williams, Anthony Buzzard, Arlen Rankin. I shouldn’t have started because there were so many of them, but it was just a joy and my heart rejoiced in getting with them again.

 

          But it was also very satisfying to hear and see those who came, how they reacted to the programs and lessons that were taught. To hear and be part of the laughter around the tables at meal time was great. To hear Eddie, and Gail and Dale, well, you didn’t need to be at their table to appreciate their love and joy of living. Anthony never fails to bless me with his lessons, his insights, his musical offerings and another thrilling sextet rendition of Abide With Me. Renewing our acquaintance with Dan & Sharon Gill (White House TN) was so much of a blessing. Mark Cain and his musicianship added so much!

 

          The fellowship at mealtimes and during breaks was so genuine and warm. Many people hung around after meals, and then we had to chase them out from breaks toward the classes, they were so enjoying being with one another.

 

          And we need to say thank you to the North Hills church and the congregation. The entire church was so supportive of hosting that people who came couldn’t help commenting on it. Stan & Vileen  Rowell, Don and Sylvia Black, Bertie, Rick, Stacey & Seth Ross on our Hosting Committee, plus Ken and Kenny and so many others made me acutely conscious of the goodness of God’s people in sharing their lives and working to make something like this happen.

 

          Cheryl and I feel hugely blessed tonight as we reflect in the aftermath of a wonderful few days with God’s people. Maybe this is but a foretaste of the coming Kingdom where peace and harmony and love is everywhere, and not only will the presence of the Holy Spirit of God be evident in its fullness, but Jesus himself will be with us and eventually even the Father Himself, YHWH, will come and be with His Forever Family.

 

          This was just a foretaste of glory divine!

 

HELEN MAY MATTHEWS (nee Hunter), age 89, passed away Nov. 4, 2007.  Beloved wife of the late Joseph Y.; dearest mother of Nancy Ann Reed, David James (wife Patricia), Victor Young (wife Sally) and Ellen Lynn Lariviere; loving grandmother of 11 and great grandmother of 15; dear sister of the late Pearl Baldwin, Alice Sator, Wesley Hunter, Elizabeth Frank and Rachel Knicely. The family would appreciate contributions in the memory of Helen to the Gateway Health Care Center, Attn: Nancy Sugarman, 3 Gateway Dr., Euclid, OH 44119. Funeral Service Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.

 

THANKS!  Hi Rex, We would like to take this opportunity to thank your congregation for their generous support of a much needed ministry.  As requested funds will be allocated to the African project to purchase tin roofs, cement, food and Bibles.  May God Bless You All.    - Robin Taylor / General Conference / Atlanta Bible College / 11-7-07

 

THE SZEKELY’S called Tuesday: Al is free of pain, still weak, feeling better, driving and did a little shopping.  He sees the doctor the 19^th and if he OKs it, they will push on to FL.  They are VERY grateful for all our prayers and cards!!

 

WE NOW HAVE HEATERS in the gutters that will stop all those huge icicles hanging off the eves/gutters and also stop snow & ice backing up and then melting into the entryway walls ruining paneling and trim.

 

          The entryway was repaired on Nov. 6^th and the heaters put in the same day.  This also required an electrician to run extra outdoor outlets.

 

THE LAWRENCEVILLE CHURCH is dedicating their 25 acres today (rained out last Sunday).  The congregation has also voted to move ahead with building a new church on the property.  Pray for the church and pastor as they move forward to have a more effective ministry in the greater Springfield area. 

 

WE’RE MAKING A PUSH FOR

THANKSGIVING FOOD!

Our S.S. staff wanted to “push” this month the need for food for the Salvation Army (or for a need we personally know about).  Yes, we appreciate the food you bring year ‘round, but we want to make a special effort to get LOTS of food this month.  We’ll take it down before Thanksgiving.  Thanks!

 

HANGING OF THE GREENS will be next Sunday after church.  We will have some refreshments too.

 

PRAY FOR: Frank Toth (11-15 surgery), Margie Goldman (miscarriage), Anita Cain, Ken-Kathy Cramer, Al Szekely, Tyler Moore (auto accident), Jeff Stoneman (cancer, by Whaley), Terry James (cancer, by Roper), Evelyn Pennington, Emory Macy (broke hip 9-10), Jason Dishong (by G. Whaley), / Pastor Beder (cancer, Peru), Jack Hearp, Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R Phillis), Amy Gunselman (cancer, by R Phillis), Ruby Korode, Lucinda (by Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich, Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed + current pregnancy*, (*by Skip), W.C. & Craig Blank­en­ship, College students: Andrew Weaver, Jackie Schuld, Dan & Rachel Cain (internship / teaching degree), Shut-ins: Evelyn Pennington Military: Rodger Schuld, Those serving in other countries: Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in Malawi &  Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand and the Pastors in Haiti. Colleges / Churches: RRCC, ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Breth­ren and for the peace of Je­ru­sa­lem, Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6, 7

 

November 2007
25      Hanging of the greens + refreshments

December 2007

2        Communion Sunday

2        Secret Pal Revelation Social at the home of the Schuld’s

9        Emerald Ridge Christmas program / 1:30pm

16      Christmas Banquet here at church after services

23      Christmas Sunday

30      Pastor and wife on vacation

Future date:  Jan 13 Gideon Speaker

 

Musicians: (Doris Schuld and Mark Cain)

Welcome / Announcements

Worship Hymns / Mark Cain

545 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

547 We Gather Together

Prayer / Offering

Message: “To All Ye Pilgrims”

CD Sermon Intro: The Work-A-Day world of the Pilgrims

Key Texts: Eph 5:19, 20; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Heb 11:13-16; Ps 100; 107

577 Thank You, Lord

 

BOOK REVIEW - DECEMBER, 2007 by Anita Cain

 

Butterfly In Brazil

By Glenn Packiam

If a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, does it cause a tornado in Texas?" Not unless it is a mighty big butterfly, you may be thinking.  This whimsical question was posed by Henri Poincare to explain his observation of big differences resulting from small changes, which came to be known as "the butterfly effect."  But what does the butterfly have to do with Christian living? Quite a lot, this author suggests, when the fluttering of butterfly wings is done in service to humanity and God. He says that a life of humble beginnings can end with epic significance and that one life can make a difference. Many people start out with grand dreams which fizzle, but others who faithfully take a step at a time, day by day, may make a huge difference. Hard to believe?  Think Rosa Parks as just one example.

 

Butterfly in Brazil (How Your Life Can Make a Difference) by Glenn Packiam - Observing that many people who started out wanting to change the world ended up disappointed or even dropping out altogether, Packiam outlines a surer path to making change than monumental "shooting the moon" actions. Studying the lives of people who have effected change, he discovered they were faithful in small things, acted where they were, stayed put over the long haul, multiplied their effort with helpers, loved people passionately, and laid down their lives in obedience to Christ. It was the small, consistent flapping of wings which amounted to lasting change. Luther nailing his 95 theses to a door, Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, Rosa Parks keeping her seat are examples. The author says, "I’ve come to realize that there isn’t some point where all of a sudden we reach greatness or we get to do great things. I think we have the possibility of being a part of great things EVERY DAY and may not even know it.... The "greatness" isn’t always so obvious. It is often so sublime that we simply miss it."